New survey suggests the human attention span is now shorter than that of a goldfish

15 May 2015

New survey suggests the human attention span is now shorter than that of a goldfish

New research has shown that the human attention span is changing thanks to the technology that we use, and has apparently fallen from 12 seconds (the average attention span in the year 2000) to just eight seconds...less than that of a goldfish, which is believed to be able to hold attention for nine seconds.

The survey looked at 2,000 people, and found that many of us are constantly doing several things at the same time, such as watching TV while using our phones or tablets. That has had an effect on our attention spans, shortening the amount f time we're willing to devote to one single task.

Speaking about the results of the survey, Owen Sagness, UK General Manager for Microsoft Advertising and Online said "our research indicates that people's brains are adapting in response to their use of digital technology, causing an evolution of attention skills. Consumer attention spans alter depending on a variety of factors such as age, vocation, time and place, which impacts how they interact with advertising".

However, the study also found that we are becoming more adept at multi-tasking, and that men are, in general, better at it than women. 38% of men showed an ability to juggle tasks well, as opposed to 29% of women, but the ladies have longer attention spans, and were more likely to see tasks through to their completion, even if they are repetitive and boring.

When it comes to multi-tasking, one age group stood out above the rest, as it seems the 45-54 year-olds were the best at it, suggesting that it's a skill that you get better at as you get older.

If you've managed to make it this far in the article, congratulations, you probably have a better attention span than a goldfish.